CASTLE Hill Police welcomed four new officers last week to boost policing numbers around The Hills. The rookies wasted little time with introductions and were immediately sent out on the beat to learn the ropes in their new patch.

Among the new recruits is Michael Lefel, 42, who joined the force in January for a career change. "I wanted a challenge and I chose The Hills because it's close to my home on the Central Coast," he said. "Our first week has been about soaking it all in and meeting people around the community."

Each of the recruits will juggle their work commitments while completing an associate degree in policing at Charles Sturt University.

Scott Darwick, 24, is the youngest and joins after a career in landscape estimating.

"I switched careers because I wanted to help the community and make a difference," he said.

The group's other recruits, Ryan Bruckard, 32, and Tony Stocker, 28, both of The Hills, join the area command with a wealth of local knowledge.